A referent is the object, event, condition, relation, or state of affairs being referred to. It differs from the word used and the thought about it. Agreement on a label therefore does not establish that participants are discussing the same thing.
- Entry typeKey concept
- CategoryAnalytical Frameworks, Typologies & Heuristics
- DomainMeaning & Clarity
What these mean
Editorial orientation · Entry type
Key concept
Key concepts are the working vocabulary of the field: the terms that the models and tools rely on and that a decision about communication has to use precisely. Each entry defines the term and sends you to the brief or the self-guided audit where it is put to work.
Editorial orientation · Category
Analytical Frameworks, Typologies & Heuristics
Organizes dimensions, distinctions, types or questions so that a situation can be examined systematically. A framework supplies structure, a typology distinguishes forms, and a heuristic offers a usable way to orient judgment.